The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-19
THE UNIYERsALIsM OF ORIGEN.

CnulCu lhUuCA VI tn0 bullu CCHIuiys |
Born A. D. 1856, died A. D 253.) Bishop |
Merrill, in recent controversy, init |
mated that Origen only cherished dim
hope of the final salvation of all souls
that he was not, as represented by DR..
Hosea Ballou, I'd, DR.. Edward Beecher,
Archdeacon Farrar, and numberless
other ecclesiastical writer's, a clear out
and out advocate of the final restitution.
Ancient Universalism," says Bishop
Merrill, appeared in the form of
hypothesis, rather than as a belief.
'Origen, the most visionary, as we'll as
1.-THE most learned of the post-apostolic
fathers, conjectured that possibly the
future punishment of the wicked
''might ultimately exhaust the penalty
"of human guilt, and release the con-
"demned for the operation of some I'M
"known agency of grace for their puri-
"fcation and restoration to God"
Bishop Merrill's statement is based
on certain passages in the writings of
Origen, where he seems for the moment
to lose sight of the final end, and de-
clines to dogmatize ON the subject.
But these passages are clearly only in
cidental in the development of his
thought, and it is certain that he did
not finally rest in the uncertainty to
which they seem to point. These ex-
pressions of Origen are we'll known to
all students of his opinions. They re-
late mainly to the Interpretation of
few New Testament texts on which
Origen was not exactly prepared to
pronounce a definite opinion. In the
hampton lectures for 1886, DR.. Charles
Bigg discusses Origen's views in learn
ed and instructive manner, and while no.
ticing these passages and analyzing
them with considerable fulness, he is ex-
plicit on the final Universalism of this
great and learned father. DR.. Bigg is
not Universalist, and hence remarks
that "there are in Scripture passages
(which make directly against Origen's
Opinions" In the view of the hampton
lecturer, considerations such as these
''lay heavy upon his candid spirit"
But DR.. Bigg recognizes that this fact
affords no justification for the denial of
Origen's Universalism, and he is ex-
plicit in asserting that his prevailing
hope was, "that all men shall be healed
sin that far-off day, when there shall
'be one flock and one shepherd, and
''even Sodom, as Ezekiel prophesied,
"shall be restored"
In the hampton lecturers examina-
tion of ORIGINS opinions pruden-
tial and ecclesiastical reasons DR.. Bigg
will not style them doctrines, I've
find very interesting summary Of the
general grounds and principles on which
Origen's theology was based. Those
relating to the future life are particu-
larly interesting to Universalists. Ac-
cording to Origen, in the future life,
the soul is still free, is still tested by
its use of freedom, rises and falls, is
punished OF rewarded, according to its
works. But all punishment is clearly
medicinal; at least, in the purpose of
the good God. Reward is not payment
like earthly rewards. The kingdom of
God is within us, and what God pro-
misses is not happiness, still less pleasure,
but the full satisfaction of truth. The
love of truth he has implanted in the
soul, most surely not in vain. Hence,
the future is to be regarded as one of
discipline and progress.
'Origen's view," remarks DR.. Bigg,
"rests largely upon general principles:
that justice and goodness are in their
highest manifestation identical that
God does not punish, but has made man
80, that in virtue only can ne find peace
and happiness, because He has made
him like Himself; that suffering is not
tax upon sin, but the wholesome re-
action, by which the diseased soul
struggles to cast out the poison of the
malady; that, therefore, if we have done
wrong, it is good to suffer, because the
anguish in returning health, will cease
when health is restored, and cannot
cease till then. Again, that evil is
against the plan of God, is created not
by Him, but by ourselves. is, therefore,
properly speaking, negation, and as
such cannot be eternal. These are, in
the main, Greek thoughts their chief
source is the Gorgias of Plato. But his
final appeal is always to Scripture. The
texts on which he mainly relies are
those of st. Paul, He shall be saved,
yet so as by fire. God shall be all in
ALL But starting from these he finds
thousand hints and 'crannies,' es-
pecially in the Old Testament. He
laboured to answer objections. The word
eternal as applied to death, does not
mean endless. The sin which
is not forgiven in this aeon or the aeon
to come, might yet be blotted out in
some one of the aeons beyond"
Again, in noticing Jerome's criticism
on the views of Origen relating to the
freedom Of the will in the future life
and the possibility urged by Jerome,
that discipline will not result in final |
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